SelectUSA: Showcasing Frederick to International Companies

In May, the City and County of Frederick Economic Development teams participated in Select USA Investment Summit, hosted at National Harbor, in Oxon Hill, Maryland. The annual conference is designed to attract international businesses and support their transition into the U.S. market by connecting them with incubators, incentive programs, commercial real estate opportunities, local business networks, and government contracting resources. Over the course of three days, Frederick’s economic development representatives met with international business delegations, site selection consultants, service providers, and fellow economic development organizations from across the world to share Frederick’s story and highlight the community’s strengths as a place to invest, innovate, and grow.

Prior to the conference, Frederick hosted a SelectUSA spinoff tour, during which approximately a dozen international entrepreneurs representing a variety of industries visited Frederick City and County. During their visit, the entrepreneurs toured local biotech and tech companies, met with community and business leaders, and engaged with key stakeholders to better understand the advantages of establishing and expanding operations in Frederick. The tour provided an opportunity to showcase Frederick’s collaborative business environment, strategic location, highly educated workforce, and strong quality of life.

Frederick offers a unique combination of resources, location, culture, and community appeal that makes it the perfect spot for U.S. expansion. Through our alignment with the Maryland Soft Landing Program, international companies get the opportunity to test out the U.S. market at an affordable rate by partnering them with companies to provide access to facilities, resources, advisors, and more. Frederick’s soft-landing incubator, the Frederick Innovation and Technology Center (FITCI), fosters innovation and supports entrepreneurial success by providing world-class resources, coaching, connections, customers, and a vibrant community. This program aims to bridge the gap between global innovators and the U.S. market by leveraging FITCI’s diverse community, CEO Roundtables, and Frederick’s thriving business and social ecosystems. You can learn more about the Maryland Soft Landing Program and FITCI here.

Photo of City Economic Development Team attending SelectUSA Summit

The City, County and State economic development teams work collaboratively with prospects to provide connectivity to programs and resources as well as to support partnering and innovation within the biotech ecosystem. Participation in events like SelectUSA plays an important role in supporting a strong, resilient, and diverse local economy. By building relationships with international companies and industry leaders, Frederick continues to position itself as a competitive destination for investment and job creation. These efforts help strengthen the community’s economic foundation, support opportunities for residents and businesses alike, and contribute to maintaining the high quality of life that makes Frederick such a desirable place to live and work.

To connect with our city, county, and state economic development team and explore international opportunities, you may arrange a meeting with us here.

Frederick Connects with Global Biotech Leaders at BIO International Convention

The City of Frederick Department of Economic Development (DED) joined biotechnology and life sciences leaders from around the world at the BIO International Convention in San Diego, a premier global gathering that brings together biotech companies, investors, researchers, government agencies, and policymakers to advance innovation and partnerships.

Frederick belongs to the Bio Capital Region, consistently ranking among the top 3 bioclusters in the nation. Our participation reflects the City’s continued commitment to growing its life sciences ecosystem, supporting industry partnerships, and positioning Frederick as a hub for research, innovation, and biotechnology advancement. DED attended alongside the Maryland Department of Commerce, connecting with industry leaders and promoting opportunities within Maryland’s thriving life sciences sector.

Richard Griffin, Director of Economic Development for the City of Frederick, providing remarks at the Maryland pavilion.

At the Maryland Pavilion, Richard Griffin, Director of Economic Development for the City of Frederick, highlighted the City’s momentum as a growing hub for biotechnology and innovation. “Growth for us isn’t just about population — it’s about momentum. Momentum in talent, momentum in innovation, and momentum in opportunities,” Griffin shared while inviting BIO attendees to explore Frederick as a location for expansion and investment.

Griffin emphasized Frederick’s strategic location within the Mid-Atlantic innovation corridor, access to major transportation networks, and the strength of its life sciences ecosystem. “Frederick delivers the workforce, the infrastructure, and the collaborative environment needed for large-scale, advanced biomanufacturing,” Griffin said, pointing to the City’s advantages for companies looking to expand.

The convention provided an opportunity to highlight Frederick’s key industry assets, including AstraZeneca and the Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, while engaging with global partners shaping the future of biotechnology. AstraZeneca participated in industry programming, including the sponsored session “R&D for Rare Diseases is Growing: How Will Policy Developments Impact the Future Landscape?” which explored the evolving rare disease research landscape and the impact of policy developments on future innovation. Representatives from the Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research also participated in BIO programming, showcasing Frederick’s role in advancing cancer research, technology transfer, and biomedical collaboration.

Additional Frederick connections were represented through industry leaders such as Kite Pharma, which participated in convention programming focused on advancements across the biotechnology sector. By participating in BIO International Convention, DED continues to strengthen relationships with life sciences companies, investors, and research institutions while sharing Frederick’s unique advantages as a destination for biotechnology innovation, talent, and collaboration.

International Companies Landing in Frederick

For international companies looking to establish a foothold in the United States, Frederick, Maryland, is emerging as a strategic and welcoming first destination. The City of Frederick’s Economic Development team, in partnership with local, county, and state organizations, has played a vital role in helping foreign companies secure locations and successfully launch operations here.

Marketing Frederick as a Destination for International Expansion

Maryland’s Global Gateway – Soft Landing Program provides international companies with a streamlined path to launch their first U.S. operations. Frederick Innovative Technology Center, Inc. (FITCI) is an approved Soft Landing destination, offering companies use a state-of-the-art incubator/accelerator facility along with business mentoring, resources, and tailored support to ease their transition into the U.S. market.

Since launching Frederick’s Soft-Landing program at FITCI, Frederick has already welcomed several international companies through this initiative. According to FITCI CEO Kathie Callahan Brady, 14 international companies from countries including Ireland, Scotland, India, Colombia, Chile, Romania, Canada, Switzerland, and Nigeria have signed on. An additional 18+ companies are currently in the pipeline.

The Maryland Department of Commerce provides robust support and programming to promote foreign business expansion across the state. At the local level, the City and County Economic Development teams collaborate closely with the state to ensure that international companies receive comprehensive assistance—from site selection to integration into the regional business community.

Together, these efforts are making Frederick a launchpad for global innovation and business growth.

Connecting with Global & National Investors: Conferences, Programs, and Site Visits

The City of Frederick’s Economic Development team actively participates in key conferences across the region, nation, and globe to promote Frederick as a competitive location for business investment. Many of these events are industry-specific and focus on entrepreneurial growth across sectors like biotechnology, manufacturing, and technology.

One of the most impactful events is the SelectUSA Investment Summit, an initiative of the International Trade Administration that connects Economic Development Organizations (EDOs) with global investors. The 2025 Summit, held in National Harbor, Maryland, drew over 5,500 attendees, including 2,700+ international delegates and representatives from all 56 U.S. states and territories—making it the largest in SelectUSA history.

From an economic development standpoint, our team participated in SelectUSA to attract foreign direct investment (FDI) and raise awareness of Frederick’s strategic advantages. These types of conferences facilitate international partnerships, business expansions, and investment deals. Frederick has already seen direct results from the recent conference: one company from Turkey is preparing to enter Maryland’s Soft Landing Program as a result of connections made at SelectUSA.

In June, our team is attending the BIO International Convention in Boston alongside county and state economic development partners. As the world’s largest biotechnology conference—with more than 20,000 industry leaders—BIO provides powerful opportunities to showcase Frederick’s biotech strengths. With 130+ life science companies, a highly skilled workforce, collaborative academic institutions, and strong infrastructure, Frederick is well-positioned to attract new biotech investments and make new connections for its local biotech community.

Beyond biotech, our team attends a range of other conferences focused on entrepreneurship, advanced manufacturing, commercial real estate, site selection, and innovation ecosystems—helping our team connect with businesses at all scales, both domestic and international.

Customized Tours Showcasing Frederick’s Biotech and Innovation Ecosystem

In addition to conference participation, Frederick frequently hosts customized tours for visiting international delegations exploring U.S. business opportunities. These tours often include visits to leading biotech, tech, and manufacturing companies; meetings with local founders and executives; and tours of Frederick’s assets—from its scenic landscapes and historic downtown to its workforce and industry infrastructure.

These combined efforts—targeted marketing, global conference engagement, and on-the-ground business tours—are positioning Frederick as a launchpad for international growth and innovation.

To learn more about these initiatives, reach out to the City’s Economic Development team at 301.600.6360 or email businessinfrederick@cityoffrederickmd.gov .